The Barriers to Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in the Kambia District of Sierra Leone
Author (s)
Manso Vandi Kamara & Alusine Deen Sesay
Abstract
This study looks at barriers to inclusive education for children with disabilities in Kambia District, Sierra Leone. Inclusive education means all students learn together in same schools. But many disabled children in sub-Saharan Africa still not getting education. The study used mixed methods. Data came from 250 participants including impaired children, teachers, parents and school heads. We used interviews and questionnaires. Data was analyzed with thematic analysis and logistic regression. Results show negative societal attitudes was strongest predictor of disabled children being out of school (OR = 5.19, p < .001). Physical barriers in schools come second (OR = 4.15, p < .001). Lack of transportation was third (OR = 3.31, p < .001) and lack of special learning materials was fourth (OR = 2.87, p < .001). Pregnant students and poor students also face big exclusion. The study conclude that awareness of inclusive education has grown but implementation still have serious gaps. We need targeted interventions to change societal attitudes, fix school infrastructure, provide learning materials and train teachers better. These findings matter for policy makers who want to achieve inclusive education for all children in Sierra Leone.
Key words: Inclusive Education, Children with Disabilities, Sierra Leone, Social Model of Disability, Educational Barriers.
| Title: | The Barriers to Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in the Kambia District of Sierra Leone |
|---|---|
| Author: | Manso Vandi Kamara & Alusine Deen Sesay |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Scientific Reports |
| Website: | http://ijsab.com/jsr |
| ISSN: | ISSN: 2708-7085 (Online), ISSN: 3079-9317 (Print) |
| Publisher | IJSAB International |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.58970/JSR.1241 |
| Media: | Online |
| Volume: | 15 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Acceptance Date: | 20/09/2026 |
| Date of Publication: | 24/09/2026 |
| PDF URL: | http://ijsab.com/wp-content/uploads/1241.pdf |
| Free download: | Available |
| Page: | 81-102 |
| First Page: | 81 |
| Last Page: | 102 |
| Paper Type: | Research paper |
| Current Status: | Published |
Cite This Article:
Kamara, M. V. & Sesay, A. D. (2026). The Barriers to Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in the Kambia District of Sierra Leone, Journal of Scientific Reports, 15(1), 81-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58970/JSR.1241
About Author (s)
Manso Vandi Kamara (Corresponding author), Department of Public Administration and Management, University of Makeni (Unimak), Makeni, Sierra Leone. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2154-5781
Alusine Deen Sesay, Department of Public Administration and Management, University of Makeni (Unimak), Makeni, Sierra Leone. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2630-3965
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58970/JSR.1241
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